LIVE: The Redcoats are coming

THE old adage that pressure makes diamonds has rung true for Melbourne rockers Redcoats.

The four-piece released their self-titled debut album last month, whittling down the 40 or 50 songs written over two years to a 10-song LP that has earned critical acclaim.

Singer Emilio Mercuri told LIVE the band embraced the pressure for their debut album.

‘‘I think that pressure is a very beautiful thing. It’s what diamonds are made out of. I think you’d just be naive to not allow those nerves and pressure to come into your general thought process,’’ Mercuri said. ‘‘It’s simply about how you act and what you do whilst that pressure is within you. I definitely allow [the pressure] to seep in.’’

Redcoats has been widely praised as an impressive debut from four boys who grew up on a diet of live music at Melbourne venues such as the Espy and the Prince of Wales, watching bands such as The Vasco Era, The Drones and The Cat Empire.

Mercuri’s voice recalls the heyday of classic ’70s rock and holds its own against the throbbing sounds of bassist Rhys Kelly, drummer Andrew Braidner and guitarist Neil Wilkinson. Before joining Redcoats, Wilkinson was playing alongside the likes of Spencer P. Jones (Beasts of Bourbon).

The band gained a following and landed support slots for Grinspoon, Papa Vs Pretty, Calling All Cars and Karnivool. They released a debut EP in 2011, with the first single Dreamshaker landing at No.76 in Triple J’s Hottest 100. The band then turned their attention to a debut LP, heading to rural Victoria to consolidate the dozens of songs written during 2 years.

Isolation allowed the band to escape the ‘‘monotony’’ of everyday life in the city and let the creative juices flow.

‘‘We found some nice little secluded houses which beautiful people owned who allowed us to get in there and make as much noise [as] we wanted to, whenever we wanted to. The only noise we were waking up to was the cows,’’ Mercuri said.

‘‘Just basically allowing our music to do whatever the hell it wants to do each day is something that we hold very closely to us. We think it’s a pivotal part to our band and we won’t be changing it any time soon.’’

Their record did have a little help from LA producer Dave Schiffman (Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dead Meadow, Dandy Warhols, Mars Volta), who flew into Byron Bay’s 301 Studios to work with the band.

Together they have made a record packed with droning guitars and hypnotic loops that draw the listener in time and time again.

Mercuri said Redcoats worked hard to translate the intensity of their live sound to the record.

‘‘We wanted to put the listener into the room with us so they feel as though they are there when they’re listening and I think we managed to achieve that in the end,’’ he said.

Schiffman also taught the band to give their music space: ‘‘We allowed ourselves space within the sound and allowed each individual part to flourish within the song and in doing so it achieved a cohesion that may not have come about in another sense.’’

Mercuri is confident the record shows off their ‘‘honest’’ sound.

‘‘At the beginning of it all we’re a classic rock band. In the end we’re just four guys writing music and playing music together and all those imperfections are actually characteristics that make something potentially perfect.

‘‘Don’t hide those things, wear them proudly on your sleeve, they’re what makes you unique,’’ the singer explained.